￼A Good Number

This year happens to be a special one for design in EC1, with much-loved creative ventures celebrating anniversaries.

5. The Goldsmiths’ Centre

Creatives all over Clerkenwell welcomed the opening of The Goldsmiths’ Centre on Britton Street in April 2012. Not only was it an award-winning building – the regeneration of an old Victorian school (with classy new extension and café) – it was also somewhere that paid homage to the area’s craft-rich past. The Goldsmiths’ Company spent £17 million on the space, which is dedicated to teaching and nurturing young jewellers and metalworkers, with a huge added offering to the local community in the shape of exhibitions and events. The centre is playing a prominent part in Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) this year, celebrating “serendipity in design” through talks, drop- in sessions, workshops and displays. www.goldsmiths-centre.orggoldsmiths-centre.org

8. Clerkenwell Design Week

Can you believe that this is the eighth year in which Clerkenwell has transformed itself into an international design destination for a few days in May? The show attracted 35,000 visitors last year and was included in online design bible Dezeen’s 2016 Hot List. Clerkenwell Design Week is also significant for us at The Post, as the magazine was launched during the 2011 event; so this May, we’re celebrating our sixth birthday. www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

10. Craft Central

Weaving, enamelling, painting, printing, engraving – it all happens at Craft Central, in the 70-odd artisan studios split between the charity’s two buildings; Cornwell House on the corner of Clerkenwell Green and Pennybank Chambers by St John’s Gate. Craft is what it does and crafters are who it promotes, through its exhibitions, open- studio events (Made in Clerkenwell is on 11-14 May) and regular pop-up shops. Both buildings are landmarks in the local landscape and the charity is a cornerstone of Clerkenwell’s craft culture. Set up in 1970 as The Clerkenwell Green Association, it became known as Craft Central in 2007 – a decade ago. www.craftcentral.org.uk

10. Thornback & Peel

The brand’s elegant prints, featuring old- school drawings of animals and below-stairs kitchen utensils, are instantly recognisable, 10 years on. When former florist Juliet Thornback and former theatre designer Delia Peel first teamed up they did so making handprinted clutch bags at Clerkenwell’s Cockpit Arts – and it is from here, in studio W11, that they still produce some of their now wide range of screenprinted homewares. They opened their shop nearby, on Rugby Street, in 2012 but now have plans to move – watch this space. www.thornbackandpeel.co.uk

20. EC One

Jos and Alison Skeates were early adopters of Exmouth Market, where they’ve been selling jewellery since 1997 (they say Moro was then pretty much the only other destination on the run-down street). Jos is a trained goldsmith; Alison previously worked in IT. The husband- and-wife duo have a workshop and sell bespoke items alongside the creations of cutting-edge designers they’ve talent-spotted. www.econe.co.uk

30. Antoni & Alison

It’s been three decades since Antoni Burakowski and Alison Roberts met at Central St Martin’s and launched their eponymous quirky fashion label. And it’s been two decades since the creative duo chose Clerkenwell for their first shop, on Rosebery Avenue. They moved into the building, which had all its windows boarded up, because they felt sorry for it. Their “department store” now boasts gallery space and a tearoom. www.antoniandalison.co.uk

40. Drake’s

Founded in 1977 by Michael Drake, Drake’s produced scarves and shawls from its factory in Garrett Street, before moving into handmade silk ties and handkerchiefs. In 2010, creative director Michael Hill and Mark Cho took over. Drake’s has opened stores in Shoreditch, New York and Japan. It’s still a Clerkenwell classic. www.drakes.comdrakes.com